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Webinar: College and Career Readiness Day

How (and Why) to Create a College and Career Readiness Day at Your School

How to Create a College and Career Readiness Day

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 
Time: 11:00 AM CT 
Duration: 60 Minutes 

Inspire Every Student to Focus on the Future 

Across the nation, schools and districts are discovering the transformative power of devoting a single school day to assessing and improving students’ readiness for college and career. Imagine an entire school day or multiple events throughout the year dedicated to help every student focus on: 

  • The progress they’ve made toward their goals.
  • How to apply what they’ve learned so far.
  • The steps they must take between now and graduation to make their dreams a reality. 

Imagine the impact of dedicating time to helping every student see what’s possible for their future. Hosting a College and Career Readiness Day brings your entire school community together – students, educators and families – to explore what “readiness” truly means, and how they can achieve it. With engaging, goal-driven activities, students gain clarity, confidence, and accountability as they take ownership of their next steps.  

ACT is here to help you design an inspiring event that will energize your school and unite your community around student success. 
 
Join us Jan. 14, 2026, for an online event dedicated to building a culture of college and career readiness in your school.  You’ll hear from school leaders who will describe the successes of their College and Career Readiness events in Oklahoma and Georgia. Their stories will showcase how a readiness culture can elevate readiness for every student.   

Among other tips, we’ll tell you about the 4 “C” s that define a successful readiness event. 

  • Commitment—Build a school- or district-wide day of activities and assessments that demonstrate your dedication to preparing every student for what’s next.  
  • Culture—Infuse readiness into every activity, message, and initiative – from classrooms to families to the broader community.
  • Comprehensiveness—Take a holistic approach that addresses academic, social emotional, and workforce readiness at every stage.  
  • Chance (and Opportunity)—Use data to guide students toward their dreams, foster continuous growth and celebrate their milestones toward success. 
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Please fill out the following information to register for the event.
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Moderator


Dr. Ashley Buchman, Senior Director, K–12 Sales – Eastern United States, ACT
As Senior Director of K–12 Sales for the eastern United States, Dr. Ashley Buchman leads a team dedicated to empowering schools and districts through ACT’s solutions for student readiness and success. By fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and shared growth, her team consistently exceeds goals and strengthens partnerships across the K–12 landscape. Through collaboration, data-driven strategy, and continuous learning, Team East drives sustainable growth, enhances customer experiences, and advances ACT’s mission to help every learner reach their potential.

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Presenters 


Cari J Lousch, College & Career Specialist - Enid Public Schools, Enid Oklahoma 
Cari Lousch is currently serving as College & Career Specialist at Enid Public Schools in Oklahoma.  She graduated from Oklahoma State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Education, Counseling, and Administration.  Her career has included positions in secondary and post-secondary education with several school districts, Oklahoma CareerTech and The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and ACT, Inc. as a Consultant/Sr. Account Executive in multiple states.   Her passion is for helping students build their dreams, making sure they have information they need and interactive guidance starting in Middle School, and that counselors, teachers, and parents are involved.  After a brief retirement, she returned to the high school to share tools and strategies she has collected over time, in the district she calls home, with the opportunity to see results and watch students grow over time.  

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Atua Emu, Director of Post-Secondary Match - KIPP Forward | KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 
For over 14 years, Atua Emu has been dedicated to supporting K-12 and higher education students in metropolitan Atlanta, specializing in college and career readiness. She has spent the past 4 years with KIPP Atlanta Schools, where she leads a team of Post-Secondary Match Instructors. Together, they empower scholars of all grade levels at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate to develop the skills and knowledge needed to live a choice-filled, passion driven life.

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Dr. Shannon Eldridge, Academic Specialist, DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi 
Dr. Shannon Eldridge is an Academic Specialist for DeSoto County Schools in Northwest Mississippi. After 14 years of teaching middle and high school social studies and English courses, she transitioned to the district’s Academic Services department. For the past 11 years, Dr. Eldridge has served as a literacy coach and academic specialist to support science, social studies, English, and College and Career Readiness teachers. She is passionate about adolescent literacy and educational equality, which led her to pursue a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2023. Dr. Eldridge lives in Hernando, Mississippi, with her husband and two daughters.

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